Section twelve: 6.13-24

Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author, except as provided by U.S.A. copyright laws.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

It is of note that all verbs in this verse are aorist - one time action. You are to take, withstand, and are to have done all to stand - once, not daily, not as it is convenient - you know after you have sinned a lot and want to clean up your act a little - no, we are to take on the armour and take our stand - period.

Rather, takes the sails out of some of the spiritual warfare teachings. Standing is to be the hallmark of our lives; it is to be backed by that taking on of our armour. We should be noted for being at the ready; never not being at the ready.

God wants a standing army, not a bunch of reserves that will get armoured up when the time is forced upon them; they are to be armed and ready at all times - a natural state of affairs.

Note also that it is the "whole" armour, not just part of it. Fully prepared is the desire of God, not partially prepared. "Whole" and "armour" are one term that we have mentioned - we get our word panoply from the Greek word which also means whole armour.

This is only logical, what soldier would put on his helmet, flack jacket and go out to fight without his rifle? When you step up to stand in the gap, you want to have yourself covered as best you can so that your armour can deflect oncoming weapons. You also want that weapon to help in the protection of your person and others around you.

One of the saddest parts of the Iraq war was that we sent our troops in with less equipment than they should have had. This was a major mistake of preparations long before the war was undertaken. The leaders should have had the equipment on hand to face any war. You can't take two years to prepare for war, then attack - that is illogical. The armour should have been available for the soldier’s protection when they hit the ground running.

When I was in grade school I accidentally made a big huge sixth grader run off the sidewalk on his bike and he was scraped up a little. The bell rang for school to start or I would have been in serious trouble. As I headed for school he was shouting at me that he was going to clobber me after school.

The rest of the afternoon I was putting my little mind to work as to how I was going to hop on my bike and make a quick get away. I had several routes planned on paper to get myself home safely. NO, I was not about to STAND against this huge guy; I was going to run for all I was worth. Stand? Never, there was not enough armour in the world to protect me against that guy.

God's armour, on the other hand, is sufficient to stand against any comer, including the Devil himself. We don't have to plan exit strategies, we don't have to plan attacks, we have only to put on the armour and stand in the Devil's way.

"In the evil day" is the time to stand. I don't know of a time or day in history since Paul penned these words that we couldn't call the "evil day." We, as believers, are to stand in our day against the evil that is present.

As I read more and more from the old time writers, I am finding that the evil of their day is basically the evil of our own day. Nothing much has changed except the sugar coating on the outside of the evil. Evil is evil and it will not change - it will just change its shape or color or configuration now and then to look new, but it is that same old evil.

Our job is to take on the armour and stand, we are to stand against evil - that is important - evil, not good, don't use that armour to wound the Christian, use it against the Devil. Paul says this is all we have to do to stand against evil.

Once the armour is on, we have done all we can do - God is going to do everything over and above that if there is any need. We armour ourselves and stand and we have done everything that we need to do to do the task of standing against evil.

So many today feel we have to get the armour on, then we have to strategize, then we have to march off into the sunset chasing down evil. Some suggest that we must do other things to protect ourselves, some of special formulas that you need to pray to get God's protection. Nope, it is the armour and standing and that is all that is needed.

Oh, the big huge kid. When the bell rang to finish school, I was on the run out of the school, grabbed my bike, pedaled west a block then north two blocks then east three blocks and then south to my home. Never saw the big kid. Guess that means I outsmarted him. Well, maybe I was just quicker. Well, maybe he cooled off and decided the little squirt didn't deserve death by beating after all. No matter the reason home was so sweet that day.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Notice these items are to be on, not in the closet or on your wife, they are to be on you.

Stand is rather plain but it also carries the thought of being put in place, set in place. You are to do it, but you are to be set as in firm so that you will stand and not fall.

When I was redoing our back yard I put some foot square bricks down to form a little pad for a bench. I did little in the way of preparation to the ground, just a shave here and there and a rock to hold the brick in place. It wasn't long before it looked like a pair of drunks had put the brick in place. There were edges and corners sticking up everywhere.

Later in the spring I decided to extend our patio slab by a couple feet, but this time I softened the ground, smoothed the dirt and then put down some sand and leveled the area to be covered. After the brick was laid I poured fine sand between the bricks and tamped it all down. The job was much better and it was quite nice - very level. The first set of bricks may have been put in place, but they were not "set" in place properly.

As we are armoured, we need to set ourselves as if we desire to be there permanently. We don't want to waver or falter in that stand; we want to be firmly planted. This does not allow for a strong stance on Sunday and Wednesday while you are at church and a mushy staggering stand the rest of the week.

Loins girt with truth: The loins would be the hip area on both sides. We are to have ourselves covered with truth - the truth of God, and certainly not the truth of mankind for it is part of the evil that we are standing against.

The word means to protect by belting on or girding on the shields that will protect you. Belt them on so the protection won't slip or slide out of the way and allow for injury. Belt on truth, don't just play around with it, and don’t just put enough on to look good, put all truth on, the truth that God has revealed in His word.

The question came to my mind, just how does truth relate to the hips? I am not sure there is a close connection but let's think about it for a moment.

The hip is important to walking, but we are standing, so that isn't important here. The hip is also the focal point of the muscles that hold us up. Without the muscles of the hip it would be very difficult to stand. We would be lopsided at best and on one knee most likely.

Truth is that which helps us to stand and remain standing.

Breastplate of righteousness: The breastplate covered from the neck to the stomach. That same area which flack jackets cover. The area of the vital organs of life is the specific area. This is to protect the one standing to be able to continue standing while living. If death comes, then there will be total failure of the system.

Righteousness relates to correct standing before God, it is one that is correct and right. If we are wrong before God we cannot be standing for Him. In the spiritual warfare we are as dead to Him, for we can do nothing to the Devil. We are powerless, and in a sense we are the same as He is; only we have a way out of the situation - confession and seeking of forgiveness (I John 1.9).

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Feet shod or prepared for standing. If your feet aren't right with the world then you aren't right with the world. I used to do a lot of walking at the store where I worked. I purchased one set of tennis shoes that just were not built correctly. Over the course of several months I bought pads, and supports and little items to assist these shoes in correctly preparing my feet for the beating that they were taking.

There were times when I would stop in the stock room and pick up some soft plastic and role it up and put it under one of the pads to give added lift to cure a certain ache or pain. My feet were not properly prepared and I was really out of sorts until things became peaceful in the lower foot area. By the time I found cures for all the ills the shoes were worn out and I started over.

Now, I'm not suggesting we are to improvise till we get it right; God has given us the proper item to put on.

"The preparation of the gospel of peace" is the gospel or good news of peace. I assume that this speaks to the Gospel of Christ rather than some other gospel relating to peace - His Gospel does give peace.

Again, how does the gospel relate to the feet or preparing them for battle? Again, the feet are there for support, they are there as the foundation of the soldier. Without them it is difficult to stand properly. The Gospel is the only foundation that really gives the soldier the proper support to stand against the Devil.

I might add that all verbs since the last time I mentioned verbs are still all aorist - one time items, not a daily item, not a convenience item, but a one time commitment to stand on God's side of the battle.

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The shield is a tool of war that allows one to deflect that which is sent your direction. Quench means simply to put out or extinguish a fire. Years ago in the days of my childhood, my father took two old awnings that he had removed from our house and built my brother and me a fair sized tent in the yard.

My brother showed me that if you took a match and light it, then hold it close to the canvas that the fuzz of the canvas would sparkle and smoke without hurting the canvas. I watched in amazement and could hardly wait until he left so I could try the same thing. He left, I did and you know the rest of the story most likely. I did not quench the fire quickly enough and created the nicest skylight for our tent that you can imagine. Only a small one but a fist sized hole is as bad as a basketball sized one when you are talking about a tent.

It is with our faith that we can stand the Devil. Faith in God, faith in His Word, and faith in His protection. With this faith we can deflect or quench all of the problems that the Devil can send our way.

My electronic Bible shows "fiery" as a verb, not that it is awful significant if it is, but I found it curious that none of my resources mention this in any way. The thought would be that the fiery dart is blazing and that it will continue to do so until it is extinguished. It will serve its purpose.

What the darts are is of great controversy. Some suggest they are darts on fire, others say that they are poison darts and the poison causes the flesh to burn and others suggest both and suggest it is one or the other. The darts were meant to be a harassment of the enemy and to distract them from the real battle. The soldier would be forced to dodge these darts instead of concentrating on the battle at hand. Some suggest these darts were used against ships as well in an attempt to set the ships on fire. (The LITV translates it as follows, indicating the thought of fiery being a verb, "Above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the darts of the evil one being kindled." The Net Bible translates it as "flaming arrows.") I would suspect flaming darts might be a good translation of the phrase, indicating the active nature of the darts. (I found that this word is a participle which can be used as a noun or verb and is called a verbal noun, but in this usage it seems to be used as a verb.)

The point is to guard against them and to deflect them, and possibly a little warning not to allow them to distract you from the real battle.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Again, the verb "take" is aorist, a one time occurrence. Take the helmet of salvation would relate to protection of the head where the knowledge of your salvation is retained. The mind and who we are is our soul - our brain/mind. One of the pop rock and roll songs of yesteryear had the words, we have to have rock and roll to know the hole in our soul" - not that the song nor its writer related it to spiritual things, but man does have a hole in his soul - a spiritual void that longs to be filled and I don't think Rock and Roll has anything to do with it - sin is the key.

Salvation is our protection from the Devil. Christ has done all to keep us safe for all eternity.

Take the sword of the Spirit. Anyone remember the "Sword Drills" of the church quite some years ago? Someone would call out a Biblical reference and everyone would try to get to the verse first, stand and read the verse. The Word is our sword; it is that which Christ wielded against the Devil during His temptation. Knowing the Word and using the Word is the only offensive item in the armor, and since we are to stand, it is not to be used in an offensive manner, but in our own defense. (Heb 4.12 "For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.")

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

This seems to be a very specific item to be done. Praying and supplicating, or seeking God with our needs, and "our needs" more specifically relates here to "all saints" which gives you a major part of our prayer life - others. There is also a major qualifier in the passage, those prayers and that watching is to be done "IN THE SPIRIT" - the Spirit should be the basis for these prayers and sharing of other people's needs with the Lord.

The "watching" seems to indicate that we are to continue sleeplessly in that prayer, keeping up the prayer until it is no longer needed.

One must consider the prayer letters that supporters receive from missionaries. How much need is presented? How often are you updated on that need? Are you told when that need has been met? Missionaries tend to make needs known but seldom update, nor inform when the need is met - or how the need was met which could be of great blessing to the prayer warriors.

Speaking of prayer warriors, did you notice the context of this verse - the armour of God and His preparing us for battle? Seems this may be the basis for that term "prayer warrior."

Note, this is not a text that is addressed to a bare few in the church at Ephesus that will meet for prayer; it is addressed to all at the church of Ephesus. I have seldom seen a church prayer meeting attended by more than a few percent of the total church membership. Ten percent of membership at a weekly prayer meeting would be about the top in my experience.

No wander the church is so puny and weak, when those that are at God's throne in prayer are so few. God has given us the great privilege of sitting at His feet while telling Him the needs of others and we all just flock to the prayer meeting to meet Him! Ya, right. You would think that God is a puny wimp the way we call on His name.

When I was a child I lived across the street from the church we attended. I saw a lot of people gathering at the church. I asked my mother what was going on since I knew Wednesday evening was prayer meeting. She told me that it was choir practice. I heard that as "car practice” and for years wondered why all those people drove up in their cars and parked them to have car practice. Not sure why a church would schedule car practice on the same night that they had prayer meeting - seems that those practicing cars should be in the room praying, but then that would be too Biblical I guess.

I'm not sure how many years it was before I realized that it was choir practice - at least that is a little more spiritual than cars!

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

This passage has always been a blessing to me. Paul asked for boldness in witness - we have this picture of him out there like a street preacher giving forth the Gospel, yet he felt he wanted more boldness for his ministry.

Most of us need that boldness to share our faith. We need to realize witnessing is not something that comes totally naturally to the believer. There are some that can witness anywhere and to anyone without a thought, but that is not the norm. Most of us are not that bold.

It is also of note that Paul wanted to "OPEN MY MOUTH" to witness. There are many that have succumbed to the idea that we can witness by our life - yes that is part of the plan, but we might understand that Paul went from town to town witnessing, and at times did not take time to live in the town so that people could see his life. He would go in witnessing with his mouth, not his life.

Yes, live a proper life before your neighbors and co-workers, but don't forget to open your mouth as well, for it is the spoken word that will help them understand the Gospel. The word translated "utterance" is the word "logos" which relates to utterance, to talking, to communication by mouth. It is also related to the Lord and His Word - important stuff, over and above a good lifestyle.

We need to do this no matter how it affects our life. Paul was in prison for his witness, so we should not shrink from the same if the occasion should arise.

It is our ministry to open our mouths - within that context you can live your life properly before men so that they might see Christ.

21 But that ye also may know my affairs, [and] how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

This isn't a Biblical imperative to the Missionary to send prayer letters, but it certainly is a good example that they might want to follow. Giving report to those that are praying for you is certainly a good gesture of thanks giving as well as smart strategy - if you have people praying for you, it would seem prudent to have them continue to do so and if reporting will encourage that, then it is plain smart.

This also pictures Paul as a very open and transparent person relating to his own flaws, inabilities and needs. He wasn't above asking for prayer, he wasn't above telling others how he was "REALLY" doing.

So often saints tend to keep their fallacies within and their well being a secret lest they seem less than they ought to be. If Paul, an apostle, can be open and up front, why shouldn't we all - including the pastor and other leadership within our churches?

We see that Paul was not above giving others credit for being a good servant of the Lord. He made mention of the messengers faith and service to the Lord. So often people minister in a church for years without any recognition. Not that they desire it, but that they ought to be recognized by the leadership as Paul did Tychicus.

"A beloved brother" is indicative of an acceptance of this man as a brother in Christ, a person that he ought to hold with some esteem. Often a pastor views his congregation as a body to assist him in advancing to bigger and better things instead of a group of brothers and sisters to be fellowshipped with.

There may be a relational side to a pastor of being shepherd, but there is also the "brother" side that is just as important. You don't shut out the brother side so that you can assure your position of shepherd.

22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and [that] he might comfort your hearts.

This is the purpose of his visit, but while he is there he will comfort your hearts. This may have been a comfort from the information from Paul, or from his own ministry to the people. Just hearing his report of Paul would have been a comfort, but it seems that a person’s presence can be a further comfort - one that has recently been with Paul.

When people die in war it always seems to be a real comfort to meet and talk with someone that was with the loved one that has died. I am sure that Tychicus was a comfort as well as his message.

23 Peace [be] to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace [be] with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

A great benediction to close the letter. To remind them of all the treasures that they have in Christ. That one term "sincerity" is quite the qualifier. If you sincerely love Christ, then these are yours, but the implied opposite is that if you don't "sincerely" love the Lord they are not.

Imagine knowing that you did not have peace, love, faith and grace from God and understanding the ramifications of same. It might make you consider your place before God. It is also of note that the passage is introduced with the term "brethren" a further call to consider your place before God.

Are you really a brother in Christ? Seems that there may have been a touch of witness in this prayer of Paul's.

There is a very stiff qualifier for those that are to receive this peace, love, faith, and grace. Those that love the Lord "in sincerity" which relates to purity, lack of corruption, and sincerity are the recipients of those wonderful benefits. Don't live a life of sin and expect to have the good life that the verses describe, but look for a life that lacks these things. We have no claim on God's good things if we are rejecting Him in the area of purity.

APPLICATION:

1. Verse thirteen speaks specifically of an evil day in which we are to stand. We have taken it to mean on an ongoing basis and I believe this to be a right and proper application of the text. There is also a real truth that this may be speaking of a specific time in a person's life - not world wide, but for some generations and some geographical locations.

For example I am sure it has a real meaning to the Christians in China that are being imprisoned and persecuted. I am sure that the believers in Sudan that are being starved could view this passage as their day.

On the other hand I personally believe American believers may well have their day coming. We have enjoyed the luxury of decades, but that "Christian nation" concept is wearing way too thin in our country today.

The last presidential election was won by only a few percentage points, and we see conservatives under attach from the liberal side constantly. They are demeaning and vicious in their attacks trying to picture a conservative as a Hitlerite.

We may have our evil day in America soon. We are in the precursors of it now and we have another generation of liberal students graduating each year from the liberal based schools of our country.

Now! The following comments are not "against" any believer that is in the public school system, though some of them may be adding to the problem for there are many liberal thinking Christians. The following comments are not "against" the home school movement nor the Christian school movement. I have always considered Christian schools and home schools a wise choice for believers.

I say what I say from perfect hindsight and none of what I will say was in my mind until recent months as I was evaluating our country and how believers relate to it. Remember - nothing against anyone, just some observations of where "we" as believers may have gone wrong.

The public school system is creating class after class of liberal humanists. Yes, I am sure that there are some young people that do not buy into the teaching that they are getting, but many are.

The point? The Christians of America have given the public school system over to the liberal humanist slice of society, and since it is educating the most students, they are dictating the move away from a "Christian nation" to a liberal humanist state. Sure, it will take a long time, but that is where we are headed and these liberal and humanist youth are becoming the voters of America - the majority one day and where will Christians be?

There is one hope, that these young people will see the error of their education as they grow older, but if this does not happen we will find ourselves in a state where the majority can close churches and ban Christianity. They are already trying to push Christianity out of public life and they are succeeding. They are pushing Christianity out while providing places for Muslims to pray in public schools.

Add to this the fact that many of our evangelical churches are full of humanism themselves and you will see that hard times are coming. I have taught a class or two that takes the Humanist manifesto point by point and have shown that it is already in our Christian thinking. Not just a point or two, but the entire mind set of the humanist.

Don't say that is impossible, for the Roman church started out in the beginning much straighter than it is today and it accepted humanism and integrated it into their system.

Had Christians been in the school system, and had run for school board offices there would have been a huge dampening effect on the slide of public education. I must wonder if the march away from the school system was not, in part, a mistake on the part of believers.

Again, I stress I am not casting stones at anyone, just musing from hindsight what might have been.

We have school teachers teaching students that Total English Immersion is Racist and it bars students from their culture. For those that do not know about the TEI program it is where a student that does not speak English is placed in a class by them selves with a teacher that is fluent in the student’s language. For one year the student is taught English only with some math and other subjects mixed in. The teacher speaks both languages but teaches English to the student.

Now, what is racist about that, and how does that bar a student from their culture. It is a program that will save millions of dollars and help the students - it has been proven to work in other states, yet in our state the school system is against it - most feel it is because it will reduce the number of teachers/administrators to produce the programs that "they" want to keep going, or institute.

More and more countries in the world are outwardly persecuting Christians. We had better prepare our thought lives for the day when it could happen here.

There are a couple of choices believers have. Face what is coming as strong Christians or buckle under to the trouble; these are the two obvious choices. We ought to become more active in our governments and school boards so that we are an influence that will slow if not change the direction of things.

We need to get involved in political campaigns and be an influence for the positive.

No, I am not saying detract from what you are doing for God, but in some of that spare time you have get involved in something that will make a difference in the country. Get involved in what your city council is doing, watch them on public access, follow their votes, see what they are doing and make your voice heard when they are wrong.

2. When I consider this verse telling us to stand I am reminded of two specific military actions. The first was the Spartans. They were terribly outnumbered but they stood fast till the last man died. They formed themselves into a geometrical shape and withstood the onslaught of thousands before being killed. They were beaten only because they were seriously outnumbered, a situation which we will never face - God is the equalizer of all time and we will never be outnumbered.

An Old Testament account has always been a true blessing for me, let us take a moment and read it.

II Kings 6.14 "Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that [be] with us [are] more than they that [be] with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain [was] full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

We do not stand alone. Years ago Faith and I had a card on our bedroom wall. It was during a time when we were in heavy trials and hard times. The card had a picture of the earth on the backs of a young couple. On the card was printed the words, "It's you and me against the world babe." We both knew full well it was the Lord holding up the world and we were only bowed down doing our part, but it was of great encouragement to know that no matter how bad things became, it was God that was doing the hard work for us.

The slightly more successful account is the wagon trains of old. When they could circle up the wagons they had a good chance of beating the Indians. Again, this "standing" against the enemy. No, we won't consider Custer's last stand.

3. We noted that the armour of God is to protect the believer, but protect only the front. There are two truths here. We aren't going to be protected if we are on the run, and we aren't going to be protected from the attacks from the rear - from other believers.

This thought of humanism in the church is producing a mind set in believers that allows them the freedom, in their own mind, to attack another believer, no matter whether there is truth or not. Many stories I have heard of people that have been maliciously attacked verbally from other believers, from the pulpit and especially that brave and tried method from behind.

Many are the people that have been forced to leave a church because a pastor or a board has accepted the word of one person against another without caring what the other side of the story was.

Believer, stand against the enemy Satan, but beware your back as well. The importance of your church selection cannot be overstressed. Be very careful where you decide to attend. It could have a direct bearing on how long you stay.

4. Barnes makes a good point when commenting on Paul asking for prayer. He was at that time a prisoner and he asks for prayer.

What might our response be to this - should we not be praying for those in prison? Ought the Christians in our prison system in need of prayer be held before the Father? Talk about standing against evil! They are in the midst of their day of evil. True they are there due to their own actions, but they are still believers and they are also in need of prayer.

Many have come to Christ since being imprisoned, but they still are believers in need of the same thing Paul asked for - boldness of mouth. Might we consider adding the prisoners to our prayer list?

I raise this question out of a recent burden for these people that have strayed from truth, or did not have it until it was too late. I was contacted by a prisoner that still had about eight years to go on his sentence. He was not crying about the inequity, he was sharing his dumb mistakes of the past and the fun and excitement of trying to rectify his wrongs. He was taking seminary courses while in prison - he has it planned that he will have his doctorate when he is released.

His descriptions of prison life are not pleasant and his surrounding "Christian" group is not all that pleasant either. He is one of the few that really follow a true view of the Word and the rest are a hodge podge of denominational error. Yet, he is upbeat and looking forward to serving God now and in the future. He has truly taken the standing concept to heart and is doing so in that evil place.

5. Barnes makes point that Paul asked for boldness but nothing else. He didn't ask them to pray for his need of a BMW, nor his need to be released, nor his need of a new leather jacket, but BOLDNESS. My how messed up his priorities seem to be according to our time.

6. Tychicus means fateful or as Constable suggests "chance." Tychicus was from the district in which Ephesus resided (Acts 20.4) and may even have been from Ephesus. This may have been part of the reason Paul sent him - someone that the people knew and would be sure to listen to. He most likely delivered Colossians as well, Col. 4.7 "All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, [who is] a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:" and II Tim. 4.12 "And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus."

We do not know why he was in Rome with Paul; he may have come to visit, or may have been with him when he arrived in Rome. Little is known of the man, but he was important to the apostle.

Paul was also considering Tychicus for the ministry of replacing Titus in Titus 3.12 "When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter."

We know nothing else of the man, except that the Greek tradition believed him to have become a bishop over the province of Asia. It is clear that he was in the confidence of Paul, and that Paul had a great respect for his abilities to serve God.

7. One must consider the apostle and his cool mind and strong faith. He is in prison awaiting a date with most likely death and he is concerned with the churches that he has planted. He took some of the little time he had left to write these important doctrinal issues to them. True, he had talked with the Lord, and true he knew the Lord wanted the church well grounded in doctrine, but to take some, if not all, of your last hours or days to write letters to the churches must have taken some good concentration.

Paul was one that could really isolate what was important and focus on the completion of that task. How focused are you on the task that God has given to you to do? How sure are you of that task? Was it God that gave it to you or was it your own desire and mind?

We must seek out what God wants us to do in this life then pursue that task with vigor.

If you take time to look out over a congregation and watch to see how many of the people are involved in the church ministry you will see that in most churches there are a few that are doing all the work. The many are sitting from week to week doing nothing except giving their attendance and some cash and calling it good.

Ephesians calls us to consider just what we should do for Him. The book tells us many things that He has done for us, and the end result SHOULD be that we love Him so much that we want to do for Him.

He has gifted each and every one of us for ministering within the church, so there is no reason for ALL of us not to be doing something! It is a sad day in most churches because there are many gifts sitting idle in the pew and nothing is being gained for God from the non-use of those gifts.

Christ gave His life for us. Paul gave his life to serve Christ, just what are you giving? Have you even considered what God would have you do with your life? Have you even prayed about it and asked Him what He might have you do? It is time that Christians across the United States and the world to seek God and find out His will for their life!

In closing this study I find myself toward the end of my days. I have sought to do all I could for the Lord at every juncture of my life since He called me to ministry. I may have a number of years left to minister, but I might be gone tomorrow.

My study of this book has called my mind so often to the question, "Have I done all I could have for God in my life?" I am sure I could have fit in some more, I am sure I was lax at times through the years, but I can know that I have followed His will at every turn. I have sought His direction as to where, and what I should be doing in life. I have attempted to make Him first in my life, even though I know there are times when I have failed.

My question to the reader is this. Have you sought God's will for your life, do you follow His will daily, are you attempting to do the very best that you can for Him? I trust that these are questions that you will consider if they aren't already on your daily schedule.

Our purpose in life is to follow Him. If we are not doing that then we are missing the whole point of life as a believer.

I think this study has stirred more in my spiritual life than any other in my entire life. It has prodded me to be more productive in writing; it has prodded me to be more special in my prayer life, not only to God, but for others. I trust that you have found similar results in your life.